Simone Casagrande on Rock Attitude
Simone Casagrande's interview on Rock Attitude. Read about his solo project “Casagrande”, his new album, and many more about the Italian musician.
Hello Simone, in October you released your first solo album, this is your main project right now?
– Hello! Yes, absolutely.
What is worse and better in a solo project compared with a standard band?
– A band is funnier, songs are coming out jamming along, but sometimes you may have to discuss a lot about the final result. If you are not a real professional, you can split any cost with the other members. In a solo project, you are in command of everything, but as in my case you are also the producer things will be going really slowly. I think the real worse or better depends on the level of the project itself.
You started your musical work in the 90s, much more than 20 years ago, what kept you in balance all those years?
– Frankly speaking, I had a lot of time off the music. I remember 2 or 3 years in my 30ies when I was barely touching the guitar. Maybe this progressive isolation from my relatives and friends, due to the fact I moved to London to work pushed me totally into "the business" again.
Many things have happened in your life, of course, what really affected your music and came to be expressed in your songs?
– I have been always told to be different from others. I don't think to be it, instead. I suffered from depression anxiety sometimes. It began with a car accident my mother had in 1992. I found relief in my catholic faith. It doesn't mean I am a full believer, but I had to attend to people who are completely outside rock or metal. Nobody tried to accept me as I am, they just judged me by the appearance.
How do you start the composition of a new album? What are the spark and main ideas of inspiration?
– I have never composed a song thinking it should be part of an album. I always took inspiration from the news, my readings, history, other songs. Sometimes I listen to something I want to emulate somehow.
I have read that you were composing the album for many years. Is that true? It seems far apart from the current trend where an album needs months to see the day of light, right?
– Let's say I was an endless beginner and unexpectedly someone decided to raise up my level. Of course, professionals do not need years to complete their creations, but they have contracts to honor, fans to please.
Any collaboration in the album or just yourself?
– Vocals have been made by the former singer of the band “Embryo” in “Anxious”. In other songs, I had two session men as bassist and drummer. In a few, I did anything myself.
If we pay attention to the titles of the songs, you are mostly talking about extreme psychological situations, right?
– Unfortunately yes. I think I answered it already in question three.
“Casagrande” delivers a rich variety of styles, thrash, crossover, nu-metal, prog, and death metal… Which style do you like most nowadays?
– I am playing the 7 strings a lot, we may just exclude Death Metal.
Any chance to enjoy a live performance of “Casagrande” in the future?
– I can exclude a full band performance at the moment, but some social media video might be possible.
Thank you very much for your attention, Simone! If you wish to add something, please feel free...
–You are very welcome, I enjoyed this interview, I hope it will not be the last one.
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